Making the Links with Wally Armstrong

If you don’t like golf, don’t hang up. I understand. And if you
don’t like golf, and you find yourself continuing to find a way
to get to the golf course, really don’t hang up! Today we will be
talking about golf, but we are going to make links to real-life,
which could be soul-changing for you.


For 25 years of my life, I was a pastor and preacher. I built
churches, preached every Sunday, met with hurting people, and
tried to be the real McCoy in contrast to the charlatans who
seems to get news headlines I never coveted. Sometimes I would
get the recordings of my sermons and listen to them. It was a
horrifying experience. I could never say what I wanted to say in
as clear, precise, and compelling way as I desired.


In contrast, I would listen to great contemporary preachers who
communicated the very things I was trying to convey. Why did they
seem to be able to preach so much better than me? Was I mistaken
in my sense of call to the ministry? While my churches tended to
grow in numbers, spirit, and vitality, shouldn’t they be growing
faster? Perhaps if I was more gifted, more holy, harder working,
and wisely strategic, I would see more fruit from my labor.


You know exactly what I am talking about. Maybe you weren’t a
preacher or a public figure submitting to the never-ending
commentary of critics around. Still, you have had the voices in
your head telling you, you aren’t good enough, smart enough,
talented enough, or charming enough to make the grade. Do you let
it beat you down?


Today we get to learn from a man who has lived much of his life
in the rarified air of golf’s elites. He’s played in all four
majors, even setting a course record at the Master’s for a
first-time participant in 1978 when he came in 5th. This man is a
“pro” in many ways, an author, dedicated family man, and has much
more than a casual relationship with Jesus Christ.


Welcome, Wally Armstrong, to Church Hurts And.